Stair-rod fastener.



PATENTED AUG. 25, 1903.

T. G, RICHARDS. STAIR ROD PASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1a. 1903.

NO MODEL.

11W NVTOR 2/4.

WITNESSES ZMM/ Attorney TNE Ncgms PETERS ca mom-Luna, WASHINGTON. u. c.

No.737,143. r

UNITED STATES a Patented August 25, 1903.

P T T OFFICE.

sTAlR-Ro'n FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,143, dated August 25, 1903.

Application filed. I'ehruaiy lfi, 1903. Serial No. 143,999. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS-O. RICHARDS, a resident of WVinsted, in the county of 'Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented skilled in the art to which it appertains to.

make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improved stairrod fastener, the object of the invention being to provide improvements of this character which will securely hold the rod without danger of accidental escape and yet which can be readily manipulated to release the rod when desired; and with this object in View the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view illustrating my improvements in operation. Fig. 2 is a side view .of the fastener removed. Fig. 3 is a plan View, and Fig. 4 is a View in section, thereof.

1 represents a strip of spring metal bent at right angles and forming the main frame or body of my improvements, having openings near its respective ends for the reception of screws, nails, or other securing devices to hold the fastener in position.

The upright member 3 of metal strip 1 has a socket 4 formed therein from the rear, thus projecting or bulging outward in front in the form of a semisphere and forming a housing to countersink the head or upset end of a rod 5, which extends through an opening in said socketed portion 4 and is pivotally yet securely held therein. This rod 5 bows or curves downward to near the horizontal member of the strip '1 and is bent, forming a lug or finger 6,

which normally lies parallel with the strip 1 to engage beneath a spring-tongue 7, struck from the strip 1. This tongue comprises a curved narrow strip having downwardlycurved ears 8 at the sides of its free end, be-

neath which the finger or lug 6 must pass, and as the tongue 7 and ears 8 are of spring metal they will serve to effectually hold the rod 5 in its closed position and prevent possibility of its accidental escape.

In'operation the strip 1 is secured to the stairs, the upright member 3 being secured to the riser and the horizontal member to the tread, although, if desired, the parts may be exactly reversed, if preferred. Rod 5 is swung to one side out of engagement with spring- -tongue 7, and the stair-rod is placed in the corner or bend'of the strip 1. Rod 5 is then swung on its pivot to bring its lug or finger 6 in engagement with a side ear 8 and when forced beneath the same will securely hold.

the stair-rod. While this. spring-tongue effectually holds rod 5, yet the rod can be forced from beneath the same with but slight exertion and as readily forced thereunder.

Changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of the parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I do not confine myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such slight changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a stair-rod fastener, the combination with a strip of spring metal bent at right angles, of a rod pivotally supported at one end by said strip at one side of the bend therein, a spring-tongue struck from the body of said strip at the opposite side of the bend therein,

and cars formed on the sides of the tongue to confine the rod between them.

THOMAS C. RICHARDS.

WVitnesses ARTHUR A. GRIFFIN, LEwIs REYNOLDS. 

